Swan Island Dahlias: Annual Festival

My job is pretty enjoyable, but sometimes it is so wonderful that I am overwhelmed by how truly lucky I am to be doing what I love for a living. The day I spent at the Swan Island Dahlias farm in Canby was one of those times. After hearing about their upcoming Annual Dahlia Festival (August 29, 30, 31 & September 5, 6, 7) and what a magical place it is, I decided to go see what all the fuss was about.

The trek out to Canby is a short thirty minutes from downtown Portland in light traffic and absolutely worth the drive. You go through some turns, winds and curves and then when you make a final turn past a wall of high trees, forty acres of dahlias suddenly appear. It is pure magic. It is one of those moments that you will, undoubtedly, start using your outside voice whether you are alone, like I was, or making the trip with someone else. I think I said, "WOAH!!! HEY! Plant some flowers, why dontcha! Wow." Yes, I was by myself. This was right after my idiotic, knee-jerk reaction of hitting the brakes. Fortunately, there was no one behind me. Please take heed: brace yourself for the beauty of the farm in advance and be careful not to inadvertently cause an accident when the Swan Island Dahlias come into view. Make sure to bring extra film or memory for your camera; I was shocked when I realized that I had ended up taking more than three hundred photographs during my visit.

At Swan Island Dahlias they grow over 350 varieties of dahlias. Open to the public during blooming season, the sea of bright blooms is an amazing sight, simply breathtaking. I had a wonderful time talking with the Gitts while I studied the amazing differences in color, size and variations in petal shape. The "Dinner Plate" dahlia's head can reach up to a staggering twelve inches in diameter and comes in a rainbow of colors. The pom-pom varieties have tightly turned petals that create an intricate honeycomb type appearance. My heart will always belong to the more delicate peony, but due to the short season of the peony, dahlias always quickly take the lead for favorite in my book. With so many rows of various dahlias, it is hard to imagine how they are able to keep on top of all the planting, cutting, harvesting, sales and shipping that they have to do. Once you get your head around that, it is absurd when you realize that all of this was done for more than 70 years without computer programs or the internet to help organize and manage the family-run business.

The Gitts Family has been in the dahlia business for the last fifty-six years. In 1963 Nick and Margaret Gitts were living on and running their farm in Laurel, Washington when they were approached by a Canby with the proposition of their buying their dahlia farm in Canby. Aside from their dairy farm, the Gitts had also been operating a small dahlia business called "Laurel Valley Dahlias". At the time the McCarters approached the Gitts, Swan Island Dahlias had already been in business for more than thirty-five years and in its current Canby location for ten. It was a huge change for their family, but the Gitts decided that it was worth relocating their family to Oregon to take a chance on becoming full-time dahlia farmers. As always, the biggest leaps are the ones that could end up being the best decisions you can make for your future.

It turns out that there is magic in the farm's soil. Just as the climate and terroir of Champage, France produces the perfect grapes for the bubbly of the same name, the sandy dirt at Swan Island Dahlias farm is the growing secret. This plot of land in northern Canby, Oregon has a uniquely sandy soil is best for growing award winning dahlias and harvesting their hearty tubers. They would not flourish in the same way if they had been planted just a mile over in heavier clay soil. I wish I knew the full story for how the McCarters had originally come to realize the richness of their property. I like to imagine that Mrs. McCarter simply planted a flower bed and each season noticed how well the dahlias thrived in particular. I do know that since those seeds were planted, the farm has radiated a contagious passion for the dahlia bloom. Just ask the scavenging gophers that the Gitts have to shew away.

Over the years, 20 more acres have been added to the family business. The Gitts are proud to have the land and ability to carefully hybridize their own new varieties. They plant over 30,000 seedlings each year and from there they keep a close eye on which new varieties thrive. Each year Swan Island Dahlias adds between five and fifteen new dahlias. For each bloom they add, they retire the same number from their stock. The careful process takes about three years per new tuber before it is introduced. They only add a variety once they know it will be a joy and a hearty welcome addition to their customers' gardens. Keeping their farm at 350 varieties ensures that everything will run smoothly and they'll be able to offer the highest level of customer service. If they think there is the slightest chance one of their hybridized dahlia tubers won't be strong and unique, it will not make the cut for their extensive inventory. The Gitts are proud to stand behind everything in their extensive catalog. They are unwavering in their dedication to offering the highest quality dahlias in the world. Year after year they are committed to aiding their customers in having the best growing season possible.

Now into the third generation of Gitts and 75 years of business, Swan Island Dahlias has become the largest and leading dahlia grower in the country. In 1975, Nicholas JR and Ted Gitts joined their parents as partners in the dahlia farm and they have been running it with their own kids since Nick and Margaret retired in 1991. Sadly in late 2007, Nick Gitts passed away. Many of the Swan Island Dahlias customers and Canby locals had the pleasure of meeting Nick Sr. at the farm and he will always be remembered as a huge contributor to the creation of dahlia varieties. A beautiful stone memorial stands tall in his honor, while Margaret and the rest of the family happily carry on his legacy by honoring the traditions and nurturing the business that he truly loved.

Swan Island Dahlias is open to the public starting August 1 each season and will remain open through the month of September. If you aren't up for the long stroll, view a phenomenal variety of dahlia blooms in their Show Garden at the beginning of the long path to the fields. Bring your morning coffee or a little lunch and sit comfortably at on of the farm's picnic tables while you soak up the amazing view. You'll find lots of parking and you can even bring your pups as long as you keep them on their leads and out of the indoor display rooms. Fresh cut dahlias are available daily at a self-serve stand; make sure to bring some home to brighten up the house, someone's day or to make a statement on the dining table.

To order dahlia tubers, fresh cut stems or their annual glossy full color catalog, call Swan Island Dahlias Customer Service at 800-410-6540 or (503) 266-7711. Feel free to request information and quotes for weddings or other special event orders. Office Hours: Monday through Friday from 9am-4:30pm (PST) and during the August and September season they will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Visit their extensive website at dahlias.com for more information and to order online.

A must see for the dahlia lover or general flower enthusiast. Over two weekends, people come from all over the world to celebrate the beauty of these Oregon dahlias while they are able to view over 400 arrangements on display. From small teacup bouquets to floor-to-ceiling extravaganzas, you'll find the largest display put on by one grower anywhere in the United States. Floral arranging demonstrations and talk on dahlia culture take place twice daily during the show at noon and again at 3pm. Questions are answered from guests in the audience during this demonstration as they fashion colorful dahlias into elegant table arrangements and wedding baskets. Live dahlia tuber dividing demonstrations are held from noon until 5pm each day of the festival. Take a stroll through and view over 40 acres of dahlias in full bloom during the show. Be sure to take some beautiful cut flowers home with you to remember your time at the festival. Food booths and refreshments will be available during the festival to keep you hydrated while learning all about growing and arranging your beautiful dahlias. For more festival information, go online to the Swan Island Dahlias' festival web page.